The President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, has said the sale of Adria Airways to turnaround fund 4K Invest in 2016, which ultimately led to the carrier’s bankruptcy three years later, was her country’s “biggest mistake”. The comments were made during a state visit to Qatar, during which Ms Pirc Musar lobbied for the introduction of flights between Doha and Ljubljana. The President noted, “I must be brutally honest with you here. You know, it was the biggest mistake of my country to sell the national air carrier and then we lost it. It went bankrupt. For a small country to have a national air carrier, it's really, really very important. And now, as a President and as the government representatives who are here with me, we are trying to persuade our partner countries to have direct flights to Ljubljana. And I will whisper this to the ears of the Emir. So, I hope he's going to, you know, fulfill my wish to come true”.
Speaking in Qatar, Ms Pirc Musar also noted, “As you know, Slovenia is keen to establish a direct air connection with Qatar operated by Qatar Airways. Such a route would significantly boost tourism, facilitate business travel and strengthen economic cooperation between our two countries. Building on this improved connectivity and to advance cooperation in areas of common interest, we are also keen to explore the possibility of developing Maribor Airport. Maribor is the second largest Slovenian city. As a state-owned and managed airport, it offers stability and alignment with national development goals. Slovenia is seeking a reliable strategic partner to transform the airport into a modern regional hub for passengers, cargo, logistics, maintenance and business aviation, shaping it as a true gateway to Central and Eastern Europe”.
Slovenia has been attempting to secure Qatar Airways flights for several years. The airline had previously expressed interest in serving Ljubljana. Prior to the pandemic, the carrier’s former CEO of 27 years, Akbar Al Baker, said, "Ljubljana is being looked at. We have many destinations we plan to operate with our narrow-bodies”. The Qatari carrier is currently in the midst of a narrow-body fleet shortage, following a feud with Airbus which saw its deliveries cancelled by the manufacturer. Although the disagreements have since been resolved and the order reinstated, the arrival of the aircraft has been delayed. The airline has only recently begun taking delivery of Airbus A321neo aircraft, which will replace its A320 fleet, however, the first of several A321s were initially destined for low cost carrier AirAsia and operate in a dense all-economy cabin configuration on several select routes.
Wow never expected such a strong words from the president. Maybe a sign of things moving behind the scenes?
ReplyDeleteOr frustrations...
DeleteOr populism...
DeleteI believe she worked for Adria at some point in her life.
DeleteThis was said in a semi private event, so the last thing you can say here is populism
Delete^ she was a seasonal cabin crew member for a couple of months when she was younger.
Delete@09:09 In her current position, she has no power to either a) establish another national carrier or b) turn back time to get Adria back. Her comments are just pointless.
DeleteOhhh really?? Selling Adria was the biggest mistake?? Not the horrific mismanagement happening in the airline for decades?! Especially since 1991 by her fellow politicians including our current "wonderful" finance minister. Oh my dear Slovenians, it's always someone else's fault. The German fund only finished what the Slovenians started and did for YEARS.
DeleteIn a corrupted political environment these things happen 😉
DeleteTypical example of populist politician. That is why government owned businesses fail on massive scale!
Deleteits so funny - people bitch about how ljubljana is still under 2018/2019 numbers and at the same time they also bitch how she is a populist by stating something that is true ... selling airport and adria was a mistake.
DeleteEvery year or two Slovenian politicians brace about Adria and Airports and then do nothing. At least make high speed railway to Zagreb so people can go ZAG airport by train.
Delete@anon 11:20 - Slovenia Control is state owned, profitable business. I guess you are wrong. There are other state owned business thriving.
DeleteJust a piece of info for curious readers: President N.P.M. started working as cabin crew in Croatia Airlines first, 1992. Moved to Adria 1993.
DeleteIf Slovenian government is good business manager, then why they have sold everything except Slovenia Control you populist politician? Look bickering a side, privatization of Adria and Airports was and is expensive mistake for Slovenian economy. Ljubljana Airport is far far behind Zagreb, and without fat subsidies nobody wants to fly from LJU. Changing “status quo” is going to be extremely expensive, and Slovenia can pay that if they want! But populist politicians only care about populist politics!
DeleteI'm only surprised the downfall did not come sooner. Adria was able to make a huge profit when JU was under sanctions, by taking the market share for flights to PRN, TIV and TGD. When that ended the decline slowly started.
DeleteSo are we getting that Doha connection or not?
ReplyDeleteUnlikely
Deleteyou have Zag to fly from. Be Happy!
DeleteProbbably in a few years, when they get more A321neos
DeleteShe is not wrong
ReplyDeleteI dont think Doha flights will be materialised in short time because of their fleet shortage.
ReplyDeleteOnly now I noticed how great Adria's logo and livery were... So many hidden messages especially on the tail design, from moving forward, to a, heart etc...
ReplyDeleteThere is a really cool explanation on the vintage page of the site
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/p/ex-yu-vintage-photos.html
Adria had first selected a new logo and livery in 1983, but the airline was unable to successfully implement the design on its fleet. A second attempt in 1988 proved successful, with the visual identity created by Airbus designer Knut Marsen. Using computerised colour analysis of aerial photographs of Slovenia, Marsen developed two key shades, blue and turquoise green, that became the foundation of the new brand image. The logo itself carried symbolic meaning: the two “A”s at the beginning and end represented mirror images of wings, the “D” symbolised a heart, the “I” a twig and the “R” depicted a linden leaf
So basically... Perfection
DeleteWouldn’t have noticed that in ten lives:)
DeleteThanks for this interesting insight anonym 0907h. Didnt know this
DeleteSuccessive governments defended the sale and blamed “the market”. Now suddenly everyone admits it was a mistake.
ReplyDeleteThe airline was sold by Bratusek which is now in the same post.
DeleteIt's nice to see that at least she is trying to do something for MBX airport.
ReplyDeleteThey did quite a lot of things in Doha in relation to Maribor. They even presented the new spacial plan
DeleteHas it finally been adopted? The spatial plan I mean
DeleteI don't know, but they seemingly are confident enough to present it
DeleteI wonder what is so special about this spatial plan that it has been more than 10 years they have been talking about it and have never adopted.
DeleteQR would be nice but I don't think there is enough room for QR and FZ at the same time.
ReplyDeleteRoutes to the Middle East are performing well for nearby airports like Zagreb and Venice. No reason LJU couldn’t sustain Doha 3–4 weekly.
DeleteBut the loads on Flydubai are at around 60%. And Flydubai also provides P2P traffic.
DeleteSlovenia is not a poor country, quite the opposite.
ReplyDeleteWhy not take your time and set up a small national carrier?
Well to establish a state-run airline doesn't really seem like an efficient use of tax-payers funds in the mid 2020s when we are all supposed (in theory) to be in a free a free-market. If there was the business potential then we can assume that somebody would establish a Slovene based airline. But the fact is that whilst Slovenia is a wonderful place, it is also very small place and clearly a "national" carrier would struggle instantly given the modern aviation landscape.
DeleteBeing a rich country does not equate to having the geographical location nor market to warrant financially risky projects especially, as people frequently comment here, the degree of government (mis)management that might occur.
Anon @1032 It seems you don't understand the purpuse of national airline at all.
Delete@1117 i do indeed. Doesn't mean its worth doing however...
Delete@1032. If Slovenia really thinks its suffers without a National airline then I'm sure in such a rich organised state it can get it together to form one. But the fact this hasn't occurred is because its not going to a profitable enterprise.
DeleteStill cannot figure it out why Adria was sold to such a company? No due dilligence was completed?
ReplyDeleteThe only important thing was that they were German.
DeleteWe see with LJU, Adria, Splošna plovba how "good" Germans are...
DeleteI miss Adria :(
ReplyDeleteSame here
DeleteIt's easy to confront things after a while, courage is to pronounce them on time. I'd say he's brave if he dares to say the same for Fraport transaction now, not after 10 years.
ReplyDeleteSlovenian president is she.
DeleteHow dare you say Fraport is bad. It's Bravo Fraport and nothing else!
DeleteI'm sure Slovenia has made bigger mistakes, but yeah, this one is pretty big
ReplyDeleteMaribor a regional centre for cargo and business aviation? Unrealistic.
ReplyDeleteLjubljana is nowhere near its full potential. Talking about turning MBX into a regional hub when the main airport is still struggling makes little sense.
DeleteIf QR's deliveries are delayed and the first aircraft came in AirAsia layout, no wonder secondary European cities are low on their priority list.
ReplyDeleteSelling Adria for peanuts to a fund nobody had heard of was reckless.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't even get peanuts. They paid money to 4K Invest!
DeleteAnother major hub connection would bring better onward options and give TK some competition.
ReplyDeleteAt least she recognises the damage done.
ReplyDeletePeople underestimate how much the A321neo delays disrupted QR plans. They now have 4 A321neos. They are flying in all white livery and QR does not want to bring any attention to them because they are in an all economy configuration.
ReplyDeleteFor better or worse, Adria is dead. Time to move on.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+1
DeleteLess unnecessary armament, higher pensions instead, and suddenly there is more potential for more air travel and therefore more new air connections at LJU
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteNataša could have just as well stayed at home. Qatar will fly to LJU when it will see the economics is there. Our political class still hasn't realised that you can not just plunder state-owned companies and expect a miracle. And anyway, whom are we fooling? Adria's de facto undertakers are still enjoying privilege of power in Slovenia.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteYou should inform yourself a bit better. The President did not visit in order to secure an air connection, but as part of a political-economic delegation aimed at establishing closer, above all economic, ties between the two countries, that is, as part of economic diplomacy, which also includes tourism, and within this context the air connection was mentioned.
Delete"And I will whisper this to the ears of the Emir. So, I hope he's going to, you know, fulfill my wish to come true"
ReplyDeleteI was hoping Slovenian politicians were less pathetic than other ex-YU ones, but apparently it's not the case.
A sve su to lipi moj dica iste matere, SKJ...
DeleteIt was dumb how and who JP was sold to, but it was a no hope company, just like OU. These countries are too poor to support such loss makers.
ReplyDeleteIts not even about being poor. In global terms they are not at all poor! Its about other factors, larger well known international players. Local geography (Slovenia is lucky that its so close to Italy and Slovenia) which makes its aviation needs slightly different than other markets etc.
DeleteBut i agree totally that supporting loss making airlines in the modern aviation market is not what the Slovene government should be doing. Attracting connectivity and improving competition it should be doing better however.
To prove how wrong you are, I will write 2 words only: Ethiopian Airlines
DeleteDoesn't prove a thing because Ethiopia and Slovenia are nothing alike. Why would such a comparison bring anything to the table? Ethiopian Airlines operates in a continent devoid of good reliable airlines. Its a continent with vast distances where connections are not only important they are vital. Your point has not validity. Try again.
DeleteIt’s FR, U2, LS, EW etc that turn around your countries tourism industry and increase connectivity benefiting your local population, just look at what FR has done for ZAD.
DeleteIt’s not based around a CR9, A220, or some token A320. If they want to blow money better give it to MOL to bring in 189/197 tourists. Every penny spent on a national carrier for a country like SI, HR is totally wasted.
Imagine how many tourists HR could bring (especially off season) subsiding FR if they weren’t blowing hundreds of millions on OU and none of the lability on their state books.
+1
Delete@An.13.18
DeleteIt proves poor country can have big and successful airline. If Ethiopia is not poor to have such an airline, Slovenia and Croatia are definitely not poorer than Ethiopia in order to have at least small airline contributing to country's connectivity and economy. No one was discussing diferrences between markets or continents. Just once again, if Ethiopia can have wow airline, SLO and HR can have one too
@19:30 your point still doesn't make ANY sense. Ethiopia is a poorer country correct, but so are many countries around the world with "wow" or large airlines. Your statement means nothing at all because running an airline has everything to do with markets, geography, political support and competition. I'm afraid to say you still don't have an argument here.
DeleteYour initial post, or whoever wrote it, was not elaborating Slovenia and Croatia "market, geography, political support or competition". It was clearly said the two are "too poor to support" national airline. But ok, if you don't want to go that far to Ethiopia, tell me do you think Serbia, which is in the same or similar market, geography, political support and competition, is that richer than HR and especially SLO? So, let me, just for your pleasure switch two words "Ethiopian Airlines" for "Air Serbia"
DeleteTo prove you wrong, which you will of course once again deny
Delete@23:46 geography and history have allowed Air Serbia to do what it has. Slovenia is a tiny market located very close to other markets. Serbia has very little in common with Slovenia in terms of market and support and also geography. Belgrade is well located for intra balkan transfers. LJ less so. Rich it might be, but not a good place to make a sizeable airline.
DeleteWith Adria, Slovenia had long ago what Serbia has today with Air Serbia. If Luxemburg and Latvia are not tiny to have "sizeable" airline, neither is Slovenia. But you once again run away from initial post and "being poor". Anyhow, you are wrong, and not only wrong but one of those in denial to be wrong, even when confronted with arguments
DeleteYour views and levels of English are hard to understand. But I wish you well.
DeleteI am glad you turned the tune to another topic, my English, which is btw absolutely satisfactory. We are not on linguistics blog here but aviation one. And no matter of differences in "views", I wish you well as well 🙂
DeleteThe real issue are you silly views. But that's all fun and games.
DeleteThe real issue is you, not admitting being wrong saying Slovenia was to poor to have an airline, later finding numerous excuses. But that's all fun and games.
DeleteI didn't say anything about Slovenia being poor. You are confused with another Anonymous I'm afraid. Enjoy your fantasy airline planning.
DeleteYeah, right, finding excuses 3 days for something you didn't write, hau jes nou. And what phantasy, what airline planning, what are you talking about? I just said Slovenia is not "too poor to have an airline". Enjoy believing you are right in everything you say.
DeleteIn the perfect world, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia would go together and form an airline, eventually together with Montenegro and Air Montenegro being a basis. 2x (plus 1x small for regional routes) aircraft based in LJU, 2x in SJJ, 2x in SKP, during summer 1-2x in TGD, 1x in TIV, during winter 2-3 in TGD, and 2x in SKP. LJU and TGD are main hubs. TZL, OMO and OHD are connected to the world through LJU. BNX has a TGD route for connections. Without Montenegrin involvement, BNX would need to have 1x based aircraft to compensate for a lack of a BNX-LJU route, as that one makes no sense. Even though it all sounds great, it isn't that realistic.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of both practicality and profitability its a deeply unrealistic one.
Delete"TZL, OMO and OHD are connected to the world through LJU" i'm afraid it doesn't work like that. If had to select routes guaranteed to make a loss-making airline in the modern Europe this would make my list.
@12:48 But that's how flag carriers work. A couple of hubs, the rest is connected to the world through those hubs. Lufthansa doesn't fly to Berlin, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Leipzig etc., but those cities are connected to the world through FRA and MUC. They only fly to FRA and MUC from those cities.
Delete@21:39 but hub and spoke flying to places like Tuzla and Ohrid from Ljubljana would NOT make money. Anyone half clever knows what hub and spoke flying is. That would not work anymore for LJ. Period so do some real research on the topic.
DeleteCouldn't agree with her more
ReplyDeleteSelling Adria to 4K was a disaster from day one. Everyone knew it would end badly except the people in charge at the time.
ReplyDeleteAnd most of them are in government today.
DeleteEvery time Adria is brought up, people forget the airline was losing money for years.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't need to be sold off to some scam fund just to bankrupt it, especially since there were other buyers interested.
DeleteThe real issue was the government’s mismanagement long before 2016. Adria was already weak. 4K just accelerated the collapse.
DeleteQatar Airways flying to LJU is possible, but MBX becoming some cargo/logistics centre sounds like a dream.
ReplyDeleteEvery other year we hear plans from some politicians how MBX should become a major hub.
DeleteSlovenia went from having one of the most connected airports in the region to almost nothing overnight. Rebuilding that takes years, and reliance on foreign airlines will always come with limits.
ReplyDeleteThat is true. But that connectivity was in very different era when the other countries of the region were on their knees. Anyone who remembers having to connect through LJ in order to reach Tirana, Skopje, Sarajevo or Pristina during the early 2000s will remember that they would have dreamt for the degree of connectively those cities now have.
DeleteI 100% agree. If Adria hadn’t collapsed, who knows, maybe today we’d even have direct flights to America and Japan/China.
DeleteUnlikely given the tiny market that Slovenia is
DeleteAircraft in the picture, Airbus A319 Adria reg S5-AAR was later registered Air Serbia YU-APM
ReplyDeleteToo late
ReplyDeleteExactly. Too little too late
DeleteNaknadna pamet as they would say
DeleteAdria was doomed before 4K took over. After 1991 Adria was loosing money all the time except a couple of good years with good summer seasons.
ReplyDeleteIf ressurection happens to Adria Airways which plane is the best for the Slovenian market?Airbus Embraer or maybe ATR?
ReplyDeleteCessna-172
DeleteDude carry on!Smoke some more weed with your Cessna 172.I believe 70-150 seater under same family should be perfect fit for them either Embraer family or Airbus(A220) if you want to restart Adria Airways.If not just employ/rent Air Baltic fleet for Slovenian market.
ReplyDelete